Bienvenido! Welcome to Buenos Aires. Your trip begins with an orientation walk around Buenos Aires’ Microcentro district at 1 pm – your leader will be waiting in the hotel lobby. Pass by historic buildings along the Avenida de Mayo, including the Casa Rosada (Argentina's government house), explore antique markets in the picturesque San Telmo area and perhaps have a coffee in the famous Cafe Tortoni. Make sure you're back at the hotel for your welcome meeting at 6 pm where you’ll prepare for the rest of your adventure. It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.

The morning is free to explore Buenos Aires – just ask your leader if you need any recommendations. Later in the day, jump on a ferry to cross the Rio de la Plata (River Plate) to Colonia del Sacramento in Uruguay. When you arrive, enjoy some free time to get acquainted with one of the country’s oldest cities. The World Heritage-listed Barrio Historico (Old Quarter) is a great place to start. Listen to the noisy parakeets in the Plaza Mayor or comb Colonia’s small museums. For great views, climb to the top of the city’s 19th-century lighthouse that’s still in operation today. Your travel time today will be approximately 1.5 hours. Today you'll need to walk around 850 m carrying your luggage from the ferry port to your hotel, and again tomorrow from the hotel to the bus station.

Enjoy a free morning in Colonia De Sacramento. You could continue strolling around Barrio Historico or maybe check out the artisan stalls selling Swiss cheese – Colonia was also settled by Swiss immigrants and is home to a unique local Swiss cheese. In the afternoon, you’ll take a private transfer to an estancia near the city of Mercedes where you'll meet your hosts who’ll look after you for the next couple of days. Your travel time today will be approximately 2.5 hours.

Spend a couple of days experiencing life on a Uruguayan estancia. Although you’re welcome to relax and explore your surroundings at your leisure, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved with ranch activities, like making fresh empanadas or joining a game of football or volleyball. The digs aren’t fancy, but the surroundings and hospitality are something special. Eat homecooked meals including a traditional asado (barbecue), enjoy music around the campfire and maybe saddle up for a horse ride in true gaucho style. Accommodation is dormitory-style. There is hot water for a shower, but it’s usually only available for a couple of hours a day.

Spend another day taking in the gorgeous views across the estancia. Maybe head out on another horse ride to explore your surroundings or make your way into nearby Mercedes for a river walk and an ice cream.

After breakfast, bid farewell to your hosts and travel to the Uruguay/Argentinian border. Cross the border to Argentina, then prepare for an overnight bus to Puerto Iguazu – the gateway to Iguazu Falls. There’ll be a chance to grab a light dinner and some snacks before the journey. Your travel time today will be approximately 1.5 hours. The overnight bus journey will be approximately 16 hours. It has reclining seats and onboard toilets, though you may want to bring a book or download some podcasts for entertainment. It’s also worth stocking up on snacks and drinking water.

When you arrive at Puerto Iguazu bus station this morning, jump in a minivan across the border into Brazil and head straight to the national park to stretch your legs and see the mighty Iguazu Falls. After some time spent admiring this force of nature, head to your hotel in Foz do Iguacu, where you have free time for the rest of the day.

Return to Argentina today to see Iguazu Falls from a different angle. Following a series of boardwalks, it’s possible to get so close to the thundering waters that you can almost touch them. At over two km long, Iguazu Falls are made up of over 270 separate cascades, with some reaching up to 80 m in height. For a more exhilarating experience, why not take an optional Zodiac boat ride to the base of the falls? After, head back to your hotel to relax.

Today you’ll take a flight to Rio de Janeiro. Settle into your hotel room, then head out with your leader for an orientation walk. The remainder of the day is free to explore at your own pace. Maybe head to Copacabana or Ipanema Beach or, if the time of year is right, check out a soccer game at the famous Maracana Stadium. You could also take the tramcar up to the artistic hillside neighbourhood of Santa Teresa, or head up Corcovado Mountain for sweeping views over Rio from the foot of the Christ the Redeemer statue. Your travel time today will be approximately 2 hours. Be aware that you may be travelling on an indirect service today, and therefore the travel time may be longer. If you arrive in Rio in the evening, optional activities can still be arranged once the trip ends. We recommend extending your time here to get a taste of everything the city has to offer.

With no activities planned, your trip comes to an end after breakfast. If you'd like to spend more time in Rio, we'll be happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability).